Nearly 200 cadets graduate from State Police Academy

Matthew B. Spickler of Watervliet is just one of the nearly 200 new troopers who graduated from the State Police Academy’s 200th session during a ceremony held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, N.Y., on Tuesday, Dec. 10. 2013.
Mike McMahon — The Record

Nearly 200 new troopers participated in the graduation ceremony for the State Police Academy’s 200th session, held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, N.Y. on Tuesday, Dec. 10. 2013.
Mike McMahon — The Record

ALBANY >> Thousands of state troopers already patrol the state’s highways, attempting to foil drug traffickers, and responding to all manner of incidents. However, after a Tuesday ceremony, there will soon be even more out on the road.

Approximately 200 cadets graduated from the State Police Academy’s Basic School, and will enter the diverse, and sometimes dangerous, work of the state police. Those recruits have now been assigned to one of the organization’s eleven troops. Of those graduates, 14 have been assigned to Troop G, based out of Latham, including Troopers Padraic K. O’Brien, a Wynantskill native, and Danielle L. Janczak, of Troy.

“The first night is definitely the most memorable, “ said O’Brien, of basic school. “It’s definitely a bit of a shock adjusting to the lifestyle.”

As a paramilitary group, basic training at the State Police Academy resembles much of the basic training for the U.S. Army and Navy. Recruits are not only taught how to use weapons but also defensive and offensive tactics, both on foot and in a vehicle, in addition to intense physical training — all tailored to prepare the cadets for the type of high-stress situations they will face as active troopers.

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“I knew it was going to be tough, and I knew the six months were not going to be easy, so I was somewhat prepared, but I don’t think you could ever truly be prepared for that first night,” said O’Brien.

O’Brien, who attended Siena College and then worked in the congressional office of U.S. Representative Chris Gibson before attending the State Police Academy, was inspired to become a trooper by his father, who was also in the force.

“I saw what a great profession it was, but also the opportunity to do something different everyday, and the opportunity to help people,” said O’Brien.

For Janczak, who is also a Siena graduate, it was her personal and professional interaction with state troopers that made her think that she might want to join.

“Every state police interaction that I’ve ever had, knowing a lot of troopers — I’ve just always respected them and been involved with them,” said Janczak.

O’Brien, Janczak and their fellow graduates will have ten weeks of mandatory field service before they are given their permanent assignments, and during that time they will not only be handing out tickets, but also helping drivers change tires, and assisting with active investigations.

Even prior to graduation, some of the recruits have been involved in active investigations. Recruit Geoffrey P. Brambley was assigned to a search detail in the town of Berlin, where investigators were trying to locate evidence from a recent shooting. During the search, Brambly located three weapons, including a loaded AK-47.

Two weeks later, fellow recruit Chad Salls was accidentally involved in a search for a suspect in a drug investigation. While at a friend’s residence on Nov. 27, Salls answered the door to find a woman who asked to use the phone because she and her boyfriend had run out of gasoline. When Salls found out who the boyfriend was, he placed the suspect into custody without incident.

While the life of a trooper is very interesting and varied, it can also be very dangerous—and it was to that awareness that Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy spoke in his concluding remark during the ceremony.

“Throughout my career I have been to so many funerals, and far too many state police funerals than I ever care to remember,” said Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, to the crowd of several hundred in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. “I just ask that every day you go out there and do your jobs extraordinarily well and take care of each other, and watch each other’s back, and every night you go home to your families.”

The troopers of the 200th class will begin their first day of work on Dec. 16.